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  #1  
Old 04-02-23, 07:16 PM
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Default Birmingham City Police

Good Evening,
I bought these pictures recently, which I believe are of Birmingham City Police.
Does anyone know when they stopped wearing spiked helmets? and perhaps what period these photo's may date to

Thank you
Billyh
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  #2  
Old 05-02-23, 02:50 PM
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The story goes that the Corporation Transport Committee complained to the Watch Committee that the spikes on the helmets were causing damage to the ceilings of the tramcars whenever policemen boarded them.

Whether that is true or not, I don't know. However, police forces regularly changed the design of their helmets, often at the whim of a new Chief Constable, who simply wished to make his mark. In Birmingham's case the spikes were replaced by a "ball" top. The basic design remaining the same. Much later, into the circa 1940's, the ball and cross piece was taken off completely and replaced by a black "rose". Again, the basic design remained the same.

Dave.
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  #3  
Old 05-02-23, 03:14 PM
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Thanks Dave. Interesting 'story' re the teams as well.
Billyh
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Old 05-02-23, 05:42 PM
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Another interesting 'story' , this time from 1897 !

Quote:
Constable Snipe, aged 29, who belonged to 'C' Division of the then Birmingham City Police, died on July 19, 1897, after responding to a pub closing time disturbance in Bridge Street West.

According to reports from the time, there was a 'murderous attack on the constable,' whereby he was hit on the temple with a brick and knocked unconscious. The stricken officer was taken to the General Hospital, where he died four hours later from a fractured skull.

Amazingly, PC Snipe's helmet, which was used as evidence through the trial, has been kept at the museum and is one of the last police helmets of its kind with a sharp spike on top.

This is because following the death of constable Snipe, his colleagues, at first, wrongly believed that the brick, which hit his head, caused the spike to be knocked through to his skull, causing his fatal injury. Although this wasn't true, his fellow officers refused to wear the spiked helmets and as a direct result, the spikes were replaced by rounded ones.
https://www.heart.co.uk/westmids/new...out-his-death/

PS - Photo titled "Birmingham City Police spike top helmet 1930,s" here :
http://www.pmcc-club.co.uk/museum/di...ge.php?pid=819


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Old 05-02-23, 07:48 PM
Wellington132 Wellington132 is offline
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Billy,

Super photos. Definitely Birmingham City Police and the consensus is the photos date to around 1910 - 1912ish.
Are you able to make out any of the collar numbers as I have some contacts with the WMP museum and there may be scope for further research ?

Mike
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Old 06-02-23, 08:16 PM
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Thanks Mike. I'll see if I can post more detailed photos of numbers. I think these men are 'D'' area chaps.
Billyh
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Old 06-02-23, 09:11 PM
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Evening Billy,

I'm told that the helmets in the photo are post 1902. The 'spikes' actually have a rounded top as opposed to the Victorian style spike. The type of spike and cross plate in the photos were worn into the late '30s when it was replaced with the black rose. The black star badge was introduced around the same time.

The officer far left collar number looks like D269 ? I'll ask the question whether this relates to 'D' Division.

Mike
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  #8  
Old 07-02-23, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wellington132 View Post
Evening Billy,

I'm told that the helmets in the photo are post 1902. The 'spikes' actually have a rounded top as opposed to the Victorian style spike. The type of spike and cross plate in the photos were worn into the late '30s when it was replaced with the black rose. The black star badge was introduced around the same time.

The officer far left collar number looks like D269 ? I'll ask the question whether this relates to 'D' Division.

Mike
Yes, it does relate to "D" Division. I've had three different people ask me questions about Birmingham helmets on three different forums in the past few days, including a question from someone with a connection to West. Mids. Police museum. The saying "Too many cooks spoil the broth" comes to mind!

Dave.
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Old 08-02-23, 02:08 AM
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Number D269
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  #10  
Old 08-02-23, 11:49 AM
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Closer pictures of all collar numbers. Two definitely 'D' division. Not sure about others. There are two PC's with the same collar number of 173, one of those being the chap with duty armlet on the far right of the group photograph who appears to be 'E' division.
Billyh
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File Type: jpg IMG_20230208_104049_682.jpg (40.0 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20230208_104111_377.jpg (39.1 KB, 7 views)

Last edited by billy4294; 09-02-23 at 09:54 AM.
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